{"nrhp_refnum":"92001710","name":"Lincoln Theatre","other_names":["DHR File No. 119-09"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"117 E. Main St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Marion","county":"Smyth County","state":"VA","lat":36.833568538000065,"lon":-81.51905662899998,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1992-12-17","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Art","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A three-story brick moving picture theatre at 117 East Main Street in Marion, Smyth County, Virginia, completed in 1929. It sits behind the Royal Oak Apartment House, with which it shares an interior wall and main entrance.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the Lincoln Theatre is a rare surviving ornate movie palace whose auditorium was designed as an ancient Mayan temple by Novelty Scenic Studios of New York. Its Mayan appliques, stencilled glyphs and six large paintings of American and Smyth County history are considered unique in this part of Virginia. It is also described as the finest theatre between Roanoke and Knoxville and a regional civic and cultural center.","narrative":"Hidden behind the Royal Oak Apartment House on Main Street in Marion, Virginia, the Lincoln Theatre is a three-story brick movie house that opened on 1 July 1929. Patrons reach it through an arcade in the apartment building. The plain exterior gives little hint of the interior, which was designed as an ancient Mayan temple by Novelty Scenic Studios of New York. Walls, columns, ceiling and proscenium carry applied and stencilled Mayan figures and glyphs, made largely of painted fiberboard. Six large canvases depicting American and Smyth County history hang along the side walls. Eubank and Caldwell of Roanoke designed and built the structure for Charles C. Lincoln, Sr., who died during construction. The theatre showed films and live acts and served as a regional meeting place until it closed in 1977. Its decoration, rarity and artistic quality supported its listing for architecture and art. Water damage has harmed parts of the interior, and a foundation now plans restoration.","period_of_significance":"1929","architect_builder":"Eubank & Caldwell (architect); Novelty Scenic Studios (interior design)","architectural_style":"Other: Mayan Revival","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Closed permanently in 1977 and described as abandoned, unused and deteriorating; the roof has been replaced and restoration is planned by a nonprofit foundation.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:52:00.711966-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/52/6836/41683652/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_VA/92001710.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/92001710/ed5200ad51-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/92001710/ed5200ad51-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"DwayneP (talk)","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LincolnTheatreMarionVA.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">DwayneP (talk)</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LincolnTheatreMarionVA.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"00000888","name":"Marion Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/virginia/marion-historic-district-00000888/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/41683652","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Theatre_(Marion,_Virginia)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15242393"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/virginia/smyth-county/lincoln-theatre-92001710/"}